Portable grave-vault.



PATENTED FEB. 13,- 1903. L'. VOSBURGH! PORTABLE GRAVE VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28" 1902.

2 SHEETSBHEBT 1.

10 MODEL.

. l N NT R WITNEEEEE N6. 719,911. PATENTED'FEB. s, 1903.

- L-. VOSBURGH.

PORTABLE GRAVE VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:10 MODEL.

1 w r a I z/f A M/WNEEEEE Y \NVENTUR.

UNITED STATES LEE VOSBURGH, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

TROY, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE G RAVE-VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,911, dated February 3, 1903.

Application filed March 22, 1902.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LEE VOSBURGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Grave- Vaults, of which the following is a specification.

Theinvention relatestosuchimprovements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view in side elevation of my improved portable gravevault set up for use. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on the broken line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sec- Lion of the same, taken on the broken line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken on the broken line 4 4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a crosssectional View showing a modified form of cover-slab.

My invention relates to grave or burial vaults built up of a plurality of portable wallsect-ions of comparatively small dimensions, preferably molded to the desired form from plastic material. Any of the well-known artificial-stone preparations may be employed for this purpose. The several wall-sections are molded to such form that they are adapted to fit together when assembled to form a strong and durable vault structure adapted to form a permanent receptacle for a burialcasket.

The object of my invention is to secure great strength, stability, and durability in such a structure.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a series of floor-slabs 1, arranged side by side and abutting one upon another edge to edge in position to form a continuous floor or bed. The abutting surfaces of the several floorslabs are provided with grooves 2, extending longitudinally of the slab, the grooves in each two abutting surfaces corresponding with each other in position and general shape, so as Serial No. 100,391. (No model.)

to form together a chamber between the two neighboring floor-slabs. Between each two neighboring floor-slabs I insert a feather-strip 3, located partly in one and partly in the other of said corresponding grooves 2 2 and preferably in adhesive contact with the respective slabs. This, feather-strip may be made of any desired material, as a cement mixture, forced into the chambers formed by said grooves and permitted to harden in adhesive contact with the slabs. The outer edges of the several floor-slabs are provided with seats 4, downwardly and inwardly inclined and adapted to receive the similarlyinclined bottom edges of the side-wall sec tions. 7

I have shown three side-wall sections 5 on each of the longer sides of the vault abutting upon one another edge to edge and. having their abutting surfaces provided with grooves 6 and interposed feather-strips 7, the construction being similar to that in the floor of the vault, as above described.

The end sections 8 of the side wall are preferably rabbeted at 9 on the inner side along their vertical edges to receive the ends of the neighboring side sections 5, as shown in Fig. 2, and such end sections may also be provided with grooves 10, a groove 10 corresponding with a groove 6 in the side section 5 and said grooves being together adapted to receive a feather-strip 11, the structure being similar to that already described, except that the connected members are arranged at an angle to each other instead of in the same plane, as in the floor and longitudinal sidewall structures. 1

The cover-slabs 12 are arranged side by side, with their ends abutting and resting upon the upper edge of the built-up side walls, completing the vault inclosure.

The upper edge of each side-Wall section is provided with a longitudinal groove 13, and each cover-slab is provided on its under side with a transverse groove 14, corresponding withsaid groove 13, said grooves together being adapted to receive a feather-strip 15, which may be formed of any desired material, but is preferably a flattened strip of wood or metal inserted and cemented in position in said grooves. In like manner the floor-slabs may be provided with grooves 16 and the hottom edges of the side-wall sections with corresponding grooves 17 and feather-strips 18, located in said grooves.

The cover-slabs are preferably made of artificial stone molded upon one or more reinforcing metal beams 19, extending longitudinally of the slab, and the grooves 14 in the cover-slabs extend transversely of and just beneath the beam 19 in such a manner that the ends of the beam rest directly upon the feather-strips 15, as shown in Fig. 3. The beams 19 are shown in the form of ordinary T-beams, which form may be varied as desired. I

In Fig. 3 the cover-slabs are shown flat in form, while in Fig. 5 I have shown an arched form of cover-slab 20,which may be employed, if desired, in place of the flat slab. The reinforcing-beams 19, however, render a flattopped vault sufficiently strong for all purposes.

The longitudinal upper edges of the coverslabs are shown chamfered at 21, and the grooves formed by said chamfered edges when the slabs are assembled are filled in with cement 22, which is permit-ted to harden and bind together the neighboring slabs.

The parts of my improved vault are easily and cheaply made and transported and permit of ready assembling for use and when assembled in the manner above described form a durable structure, the walls of which will not collapse under any weight of earth that may be placed upon the Vault. Furthermore, the joints between the wall-sections are substantially water-tight.

The feather-strips 15 and 18 are preferably made of approximately the length of the vault, extending through the grooves in a plurality of side-wall members.

The connection between the floor-slabs and side walls is especially simple and durable, the feather connection being in most cases wholly unnecessary.

tion easy and simple and there are no slender projections liable to be broken in transportation or use. The construction of the lower portion of the side walls which engage the floor-slabs is even more simple than that of the floor-slabs, their form being conducive to strength and durability.

By reinforcing the cover-slabs with metal angle or T beams the covers can be made comparatively thin without arching.

In is customary in many places to deposit two or more bodies in one grave. In such cases an arched or Very thick cover would render the use of a portable grave-vault impracticable.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a grave-vault, a floor-slab having its ends rabbeted to form on each end a side-wall I seat having an inner substantially vertical surface and an inclined surface extending along an ascending plane from the foot of the vertical surface to the neighboring end of the floor-slab, substantially as described.

2. In a grave-vault, and in combination, a floor-slab having its ends rabbeted to form a vertical seat near to and facing one end of the slab and a seat extending on an ascending plane from the foot of each vertical seat to the neighboring end of the slab, and a side wall having its lower edge inclined transversely to substantially fit and bear upon both the vertical and inclined seats of the slab, substantially as described.

3. In a grave-vault, and in combination, a cover-slab comprising artificial stone molded upon a longitudinally-arranged metal anglebeam and having a transverse groove near each end beneath said beam; side-wall sections, each having a longitudinal groove in its upper edge corresponding with one of the grooves in said slab; and feather-strips interposed between the several side-wall sections and the slab, just beneath the ends of the cover reinforcing anglebeam, within the grooves, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of March, 1902.

LEE VOSBURGH.

Witnesses:

FRANK O. CURTIS, ,E. M. OREILLY. 

